The Opposite of Addiction is Connection - Chasing the Scream

For someone who has provided medical care to female prisoners for over twenty-five years there is great insight, both historically and factually, to be gleaned from this "opposite" point of view. All law enforcement and medical people should be required to read this book and contemplate its lesson. It is clearly the best review of the subject I have read.

Told in narrative and supported by available evidence, this should open the eyes and minds of the reader through the author's ingratiating experiences and shared doubts. The senseless war on drugs has cost more human lives and drama than any declared war; this war has been lost to stupidity as the adoption of progressive policies and legislature abroad prove to be more humane, cost effective and sensible. America will be the dunce of the world if it doesn't move seriously in this direction.

The most comprehensive book I’ve ever read on the Drug War, causes of misuse, and their solutions. Required reading for anyone wondering how we as a country got so screwed up in every sense of the word.

Different that anything I have ever heard about the Drug War. Being a co-dependent of a drug addict, I agree with much of the book. Yet, the view point in hard won across American politics and/or Christians. As a Christian I still hope for a day of change, when government is less and Christians do more.

Informative story on the war on drugs that takes you all over the world. It makes you think about how we need to change our way of dealing with this problem as it has not worked yet. Hopefully Colorado and Washington have started the process but even they approached it differently. Pray that it ends.

Anyone involved in policy and legislative matters should read and ponder. This is very easy reading and a entertaining way to look at the various facets on the issue. Meet a segment of the modern day slave owners and their victims.

I am a physician who has practiced a specialty of internal medicine for over 30 years.
if you want advice: you should absolutely read this book.
The author makes a compelling case that most, if not all, drugs should be legalized and regulated.
I believe that marijuana, opiates, cocaine and methamphetamine cause more harm than good when used recreationally.
(Methamphetamine is especially harmful and is a common cause of heart failure and death in long-term users.)
Nevertheless, the author has persuaded me that the harm caused by Prohibition and the War on Drugs is not worth the social benefit.
Increasing numbers of young people are dying of narcotic overdoses. (Read the excellent Dreamland by Sam Quinones.) With enlightened policies that have worked for example in Switzerland – this can be stopped.
Drug-related crime of all kinds – from the many thousands of horrific murders caused by the Cartels to petty theft to help support a habit – could be markedly reduced by legalization. The police could concentrate on criminals doing real social harm. The prisons would not be overflowing with those being brutalized for largely victimless crimes. The money spent arresting, prosecuting and imprisoning drug users could be spent with much greater social benefit.
You will learn that many of our drug policies have been founded on ignorance and prosecuted with ulterior motives.
There are aspects of this book that I disagree with. The author is not a physician and he has chosen his medical experts selectively. I believe he underestimates the power of "chemical hooks” to disrupt the human reward system and subvert the will.
On the whole, he gives much credence to a lack of social connection and past psychotrama as the cause of drug abuse and addiction. I think he probably overemphasizes this influence. There are significant genetic factors that predispose to substance abuse and addiction – this is clearly true with alcohol for example. When susceptible humans meet easily available drugs there is likely to be trouble —and we must accept and be ready to cope with that fact.
He freely admits that ending prohibition will probably increase the use of drugs of all sorts. But the drugs will probably be less potent and less dangerous. And the conditions of their use can be better regulated.
Mental Health Services (which have not achieved the same scientific foundations or effectiveness as the rest of medicine) and other social services would be significantly challenged by legalization. They could at least be better funded and possibly evolve their effectiveness with the windfall of money not wasted on prohibition.
All this said, he has convinced this skeptic that legalization and regulation is the better path. I suspect he will also convince you.

Such an incredible book - Everyone really needs to understand the devastating impact of the war on drugs. I really can't wait until we start to value other beings ahead of money. Our relationships are what are truly important and what we consider when we are evaluating our lives, not how much money we made.

I chose this rating because as an avid reader since childhood, and an open minded man, it's rare that I find material that "factually" educates me in history without bias, shows more that one side of the coin, puts society's inhumanity of differing levels in our many, many faces, and gives a solid, actionable way to better ourselves individually and our immediate, and possibly worldwide, society collectively.

I recommend this read to anyone who isn't afraid to learn about theories, people, and possibilities well beyond what's currently known.

Of all the material regarding Hemp, Cannabis, Marihuana, Marijuana, and Pot this is the most detailed report regarding the War on Drugs. When I completed reading the book and researched the reference material provided I am totally convinced that the United States Congress is supporting the illegal drug trade. I will never trust any Congressman from this time on. They are all crooks on the take. Time to clean up our country.

A very thought-provoking book, which shows detailed knowledge of its subject. While Mr.Hari's use of evidence and supporting arguments is both interesting and skillful, I do take issue with some of his conclusions. A real eye-opener for anyone concerned about the drug problem anywhere in the world.

This book was life changing for me. This book covers the historical aspects of the drug war and personal stories from dealers, addicts, families, and law enforcement. It ties all of the pieces together very nicely. I think this book really gives you a chance to understand a little more about what people who struggle with addiction go through. It is imperative right now that medical personnel and law enforcement understand all of these aspects in order to help people.

As a life long Republican, a Conservative and more recently a Libertarian, I find this book
both educational, well documented and ought to be required reading in high schools
way before any Howard Zinn stuff. This is from documented "junkie", and acknowledged
homosexual and an author with very excellent narrative skills. No one can hate this person
and no one can hate the people whose stories he painstakingly documents. This book
gets my 5 star rating for cause.

What a fantastic read. The stories of personal lives affected by prohibition are raw and gritty, showing the reader the true cost of the drug war = human lives. This should be mandatory reading for all police academy/criminal justice/law school students. Even if you are a stout prohibitionist and think all drugs are evil, I am willing to bet this thoughtful, clear, concise overview of how the drug war began and where it is today just might change your mind.

Wow...what an amazing book!. History, so interesting and terrible but true. Current terrible but true conditions for drug offenders and the mentalities that created it all are all detailed here in this book. As bad as it is, there is light... and current positive conditions outside the U.S.as far as Uruguay and as close as Vancouver to make me hopeful. I will definitely get involved in the fight for better conditions, better laws and sensible attitudes. Johann Hari provides not only the history but the means to be a part of the change. God help us all to help ourselves. This book is not only for people who use drugs to understand themselves. It is a powerful argument for why we all need to be active and compassionate. The current laws and injustices affect us all.

A well told story explained through the lives of the personalities who created the policies that still affect our society as well as through the lives that were ruined. You'll meet characters like Harry Anslinger who, like J Edgar Hoover created his own policy through fear and xenophobia under a dictatorial rule in a democracy where these tyrants should not exist. Whatever your personal views are on drugs in an alleged free society, this is an enlightening, well written study on a subject that has been manipulated and misconstrued by selfish, misinformed people. The author wades through the bureaucratic, moralistic mess to get to the truth and find practical, sensible answers to save lives and treasure. Great book.

The best book I have ever read on the prohibition on drugs. I have never looked at the issue in this way before. A must read for anyone interested or affected by the prohibition on drugs. Let's hope that not only does this book start up some new dialogue but creates a movement to dismantle the current arcane drug laws.

Possibly the best book ever written about the drug war and its history. As a longtime follower of this phenomenon (and a onetime child of the "Just Say No" 1980s) this book greatly expanded upon my knowledge of the prohibitionist mindset and its development across the 19th and 20th centuries. Given recent trends in Uruguay, Washington and Colorado (among many, many others) this book could be the swan song for a repressive, costly, destructive age gone by. A must-read for pretty much anyone.

It is didactic, but he presents powerfully and thoughtfully the argument that the war on drugs is an absolute disaster and that legalization coupled with programs that treat the underlying causes of addiction and excessive dependence is the only sane way to deal with the problem. This book should be required reading for every legislator and governor and every law enforcement official and presidential candidate. And everyone else for that matter.

What an amazing book. This book helped me view addicts and the war on drugs through different lenses. We spend too much time not caring about people who need to be cared for. Hoping more people will read this and feel the need to change the way they treat people. I don't normally like non fiction books but this one couldn't be put down.

I loved the book! It methodically and meticulously chronicles the last century of the world's (mostly due to the U.S.) failed drug policies. But not all hope is lost. The book also delves into some of the ever increasing success stories from foreign governments choosing to enact drug reform. The author really did his homework, as seen by the 40 plus pages of references. Wish I could read this book again, but I am reading another book that this author used in his research.

Update: this book was so good that I bought it for a friend highly recommended!

I had suspicions regarding the drug war and after reading Hari's book, I know that the war on drugs is not only a failure but it is also doing more harm than good. The book contained studies made by independent studies. Every judge, law enforcement, and prosecutor should study this book.

I can not recommend this book highly enough for those who have either suffered addiction, or have dealt with addiction in friends and family. The author also has a great TED talk which gives you a pretty good outline of what is in the book. It gets into what is fundamentally wrong with the war on drugs, and gives suggestions for how to turn it around.

The premise of the book was great and the history and personal stories of the individual stories were enough to make the author's point on drug legalization on their own. I felt that the author's constant return to first person narrative and his own opinion on the drug war, which would have been good in another context or kept to its own chapter, was distracting and kept altering the tone and focus of each chapter. In total, the book clearly made its case for ending the drug war and legalizing drugs though and I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the effects of the war on drugs now and throughout history and who is looking for models for change.

Incredible book. As an addict in recovery I have to admit that a big part of the attraction to drugs and the drug scene is that they are forbidden. I truly believe we could save an immeasurable amount of lives by decriminalizing all drugs, lives both on the user side and the supply side. We need to use our resources to improve people's lives and chances of survival, not ruin their lives and their chances for survival. A shift in our collective mentality about addiction is long overdue and this book drives it home, not only with personal stories but well researched facts.

My review is an apology. I apologize to every "addict" I have ever cast judgement upon, via a construct morality of dubious origin. I especially apologize to my own kid brother, whom I buried 20 years ago after he cashed in his chips under the shame of his "addictions". The greatest wrongs of my generation include our policies on sexual identity, mental health, drug use, elder care and racisim. They may yet be eclipsed my the misguided well intended path to hell of climate change policy, but we will see.

Great read. Really opens your eyes to different viewpoints on addiction as well as laws regarding drug use around the world. I'm amazed at all the research and interviews the author did to put this book together.